With nearly 20 combined years of experience in the elaborate window fashions industry, Earthshade founder C.W. Swanson has gained a valuable understanding of well meaning industry “followers”. Industry innovations have remained subtle over the last twenty or so years while competition and replication consistently reduce quality, ultimately concentrating large profits among an ever decreasing supply chain. Overall the window fashions industry, along with its profit motivated representatives, dealers, designers, and architects; simply don’t “know the difference”. Yet others are simply jumping on the bandwagon; over emphasizing the slightest "eco-concious" attributes their products may or may not actually embody.

EARTHSHADE

RAW MATERIAL: Gathered primarily from Central and South America utilizing “Fair Trade Practices” as often as possible. Sun or air dried and crafted by hand. Naturally occuring Hydrogen Peroxide is used to clense and lighten the fibers where desired and allowed to evaporate leaving absolutely NO residue behind. Darker coloration for select patterns is obtained through primitive oven baking.

FABRIC: Hand woven in our Mexico City facility by three generations of family for over 50 years. Cotton based threading is used. Weaves are generally 2 to 3 times tighter than most others. Finishing agents, including lacquer, stains, fungicides, Ultraviolet protectants or other chemicals are NOT necessary, therefore not utilized. The only exception is the use of a water based, low toxicity applied stain to Red Sanctuary, Turkish Twig (reeds only), & Turkish Timber (reeds only) and or the optional application of a water & mineral based, low toxicity fire retardent for commercial spaces where required by code.

SHADE FABRICATION: Mostly accomplisehd by hand in our Texas U.S.A. facility again by the same three generations of family for over 50 years utilizing the absolute highest quality recycled content hardware, cording, and reclaimed lumber when possible. fabric scrap is often used for packing material.

REPUTATION: Using an old fashioned "mom and pop" business model now passionatly called “Doing Business the old fashioned way”™, where our customers receive answers and the care they seek directly from the company founder every step of the way.

PRICE: Proudly priced competitively with most Industry standards of similar “apparent” quality and or appearance at an average of 12% less!.

Our double strand weave using
heavy cotton based thread with 1 1/2 inch spacing.

May include: Hunter Douglas, Levelour, Kirsch, Graber, Bali,
Budget Blinds, Conrad, Blinds To Go, Smith And Noble, Castec,
B & W, Prestige, to name a few.

RAW MATERIAL: Mostly China or Southeast Asia with little regard for labor, environment, or truthful business practice. Often kiln dried and usually treated with herbicide, fungicide, or other chemicals. Other product lines are often entirely fabricated from petroleum and or chemicals.

FABRIC: Also produced in China or Southeast Asia often with
petroleum based threading and as little material possible. Chemical based finishing agents are applied almost universally. Again labor and environment are of little regard. Often referred to as “meeting standards and practices of the region”.

SHADE FABRICATION: Generally done in the U.S. Union free, repetitive, fast paced, bland factory environment. Air quality, light quality, and wages are of low priority. Large percentage of hardware is outsourced from the far east as well.

Reputation: “Business as usual”, “Increase productivity and decrease cost”. Quality of service lies on factory lifetime warranties, and local dealer “personalized service”.

PRICE: Competition is encouraged to the point of “ whatever it takes to make a sale”.

NOTE: Above information is an opinion based on 15 years of experience within the “industry” often on the basis of “heresay”. Accuracy may vary.

The “others” single strand weave using
light petroleum blended thread with 2 1/2 inch spacing.